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Question of the Day: What do you think Jake Solomon is doing today?

Do you think he is eating lunch? Are they still implementing features? Are they down to fine tuning? Are the maps all made? I assume the game is in alpha testing by now. Beta in August I would assume??

I have a feeling they are mostly working on marketing, licensing, and publishing release stuff as a whole.

As for game design, they are probably mostly working on debugging and game balancing. Probably running alpha tests and releasing many iterations of bug & balance fixes.

They probably have the programmers and artists either rushing to finish some final game components, and/or working on DLC.

They are well past the design phase at this point. They won't be conceiving or implementing new ideas or making any major additions. They will instead be making sure what they have works, and works well.

Jake is preparing for Rezzed when he will immediately proceed to Goldhawk Interactive's booth, walk up to Xenonauts designer Chris England and punch him in the throat, screaming "You think you can crowd my turf with your indy X-COM remake, you Limey bastard?! I'm JAKE-EFFING-SOLOMON and I WILL MASSACRE YOU! I WILL **** YOU UP!"

Jake is preparing for Rezzed when he will immediately proceed to Goldhawk Interactive's booth, walk up to Xenonauts designer Chris England and punch him in the throat, screaming "You think you can crowd my turf with your indy X-COM remake, you Limey bastard?! I'm JAKE-EFFING-SOLOMON and I WILL MASSACRE YOU! I WILL **** YOU UP!"

As awesome as XCOM looks and as as some longtime fans are I imagine right now he's trying to:

Cure world hunger, and all disease, as well as finding a universal cure for cancer.
He's solving the Middle East dispute, and war in general.
Also he's probably prepping a real-life XCOM unit at the UNs behest.

As awesome as XCOM looks and as as some longtime fans are I imagine right now he's trying to:

Cure world hunger, and all disease, as well as finding a universal cure for cancer.
He's solving the Middle East dispute, and war in general.
Also he's probably prepping a real-life XCOM unit at the UNs behest.

Or he's playing the game and laughing all the way to the damn bank.

Whatever comes first.

Microprose made a ton of awesome hit games. And they cried all the way to the bank.

Maybe but beta for whom? I kinda doubt there will be any public beta access. Seen any dev info on beta?

He talks a good game, as he should, as should anybody who's a pro developer.

But IMO, no true fan would make the major design changes he's made to a game like XCOM with such entrenched and diehard fans. He is doing his interpretation of XCOM.

Well, in my opinion he is, because he who dares wins. Any "true fan" could make a carbon copy of XCOM, and probably do well. It takes a developer with some fortitude and brains, and dedication to not some handful of mechanics but the dedication to the very spirit of XCOM as a whole to really bring this series back.

Actually people would probably be more critical of a carbon copy because the flattop haircut would have too much flat and not enough top. By introducing his changes fairly slowly he's been able to sway people to his thought process. That makes the game more acceptable to most people.

OT: I think Jake Solomon is reading this post and shedding man tears over how awesome it is.

But IMO, no true fan would make the major design changes he's made to a game like XCOM with such entrenched and diehard fans. He is doing his interpretation of XCOM.

No self-respecting Scotsman would have sugar on his porriage!

Also this is exactly what should be done: Keep the mechanics and genre, but do something that differentiates it as a new game. Maybe the way they are designing it won't work well, but do you honestly want Terror from the Deep 2.0 as a "sequel" method again? I sure don't.

I agree.. no one wants a TFTD sequel again. We have so much more capability with our CPU/GPUs today that the style of game they are making is a correct step for a sequel. Now some of the mechanics may need tweaking.. or some streamlining might put off some people, but the general look and feel of the game is "about right".. Im sure most people will agree with that.

I think they made a mistake with no small beta test here. The game is done but they don't wanna steal the thunder for the Civ expansion. I recall an interview saying it's being play tested for bugs and difficulty.

Also this is exactly what should be done: Keep the mechanics and genre, but do something that differentiates it as a new game. Maybe the way they are designing it won't work well, but do you honestly want Terror from the Deep 2.0 as a "sequel" method again? I sure don't.

See, I knew Voqar was using a fallacy, but I couldn't remember which. Thanks for reminding me.